Wow, umm... if it helps any, I grew up singing this song in church. I had to sing and read what you wrote several times before I UNDERSTOOD why you were asking if something in it might be offensive.
(sigh) Oh -- and please notice my avatar! LOL yep... I'm browwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn! LOL or BLACK!
Sorry, I should stop being silly. I'm not teasing YOU so much as I am making fun of how sensitive we have to be as a society. I wouldn't take offense from this at ALL -- because I'm from a different generation. Reading what you typed brought back childhood memories for me.
Because one never knows who will be a part of one's audience (recorded in any fashion) and because everyone is so freakin' lawsuit-happy, if you want to be extra-careful you might consider "...they are precious in his sight..." as a title or cover and leaving it at that.

There are situations wherein we should all be more sensitive. Hopefully all of this takes us someplace "good" .. one day. Oh -- despite my attempt at dry humor I do want to thank you (in all seriousness) for asking the question.

Happy Scrappin'!

Somehow, I assumed it was a card or something. I agree. If it's your lo and it's not for public consumption or a competition, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks! :)
Go for it! In my time it was an adorable song that kids memorized easily and learned to sing as soon as they could talk!

OMG! Now I have to sing it...

"Jesus loves the little children
... all the children of the worrrrrld!
Red and Yellow, Black and White,
... they are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the worrrrrld!"

I feel better now.
hmm... I wonder if it has a copyright... [sigh] I could probably be sued now.
NOT!
http://www.kididdles.com/lyrics/j007.html

happy scrappin!

I personally would never refer to someone as "Red" or "Yellow". If I'm questioning something I side with caution. I never want to be the cause of someone feeling bad about themselves.

As someone that has never heard this song and have never heard Asians being called yellow or natives called red I didn't have a clue what you were talking about in the poem. How about " all the lords children are precious in his sight." That is how my grandma said basically the same thing.

Edited by user Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:34:06 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Just for the record most Children ministry programs won't use the song because of the opportunity to offend. I wouldn't want a child to call another yellow or red. I grew up singing the song as well and I love the message but I don't use it in my program. There are too many other songs I could use.

I hear what everyone else is saying and echo, if this is your LO knock yourself out. If it's a card going to someone you don't know well...then I agree with one of the first posts...if you think you shouldn't then you shouldn't.

I really appreciate your desire to not offend.

And if they're not American?

Personally, I don't care for Native American. If you're born here - you're native! And I know there's two sides of the fence for African American. Some people do not want to be called that.

Eh... you can't win.

I really think the song reflects our American culture.
The terms were the ones used when the song was written.
I really think it is the intent of the song you look at which is good.
If your using it on a card from someone of your own generation then it would be probably appreciated.
A younger person of another generation, probably wouldn't apreciate or get the history of the song.

sorry i never heard that song. maybe for the times its was ok. but do we still here in america the land of free still talk like that. they are children i don't believe GOD sees us as colors only as humans, people. i'm not offened but their has to be something else you could say.

It's only offensive if you are offended by the color of your skin, therefore my vote is definietly NOT!

I don't find that song offensive at all. I could sneeze and someone is bound to find that "offensive" too. lol!

As I read the replies, I always wonder how people refer to the people they know. Also, it's a bible based song. So, does that influence whether it's "OK" with you or not? This isn't to start an argument but to dig a little deeper.

We, as a nation, have grown to embrace and segregate at the same time. we still have people check boxes to state their race, but yet "we're all the same" at the same time. It's confusing. We can't all be the same and yet referred to as "Black, White, Red, and Yellow". Ethnic origins shouldn't be referred to by the color or your skin. I am Norwegian, Mexican, and Cerian...not "brown" Colors are for crayons not people. But that's MY Pagan opinion. My kids have never sung this song ( as far as I know), and I would hope they wouldn't be singing it in school at all.

~M

I just want to point out that ethnicity has nothing to do with physical characteristics (such as skin color). Your physical characteristics are your race. Ethnicity is based on common social behaviors, etc. and culture.

Obama is referred to as black. While that probably has social reasons to it, his physical characteristics point toward being black rather than his mixed race of both black and white. But when people show physical characteristics of more than one race, then they tend to be referred to as biracial as one race may not be much more physically predominant than the other.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with describing someone by their physical characteristics and certain terms provide us with the information to form pictures.


Anyway, I think this is a good discussion. I hope no one is getting offended.

Ring around the Rosey was about the Black Plague and the only safe way to dispose of the dead was to burn the bodies to ashes. ( This is only an interpretation and not the Sure fire answer)

I guess for ME... a 2 year old isn't going to know anyone needs to be classified. Put twenty 2- year olds in a room of all races and creeds. Watch carefully... they will all play together and notice each others differences but never say more than "Why is your hair curly? Mines not" that answer is generally " I don't know" and then they get on to playing.

~M